Brits blowing it on home links

New territory: Tyrell Hatton of England is one of two Britons in the top 20 at TroonGetty

The name of Tyrrell Hatton did not feature much on the list of likely English winners of the 145th Open at Royal Troon. The 24-year-old has played in four previous Open championships and missed the cut in all four. His total winnings from those four years were £3,600.

Yet, entering new territory both mentally and physically, Hatton acquitted himself admirably in his third round alongside Rickie Fowler to end the day one under par. That he is the second-highest placed British player going into the final day is partly a reflection of the steadiness and maturity of his own game, partly of the fact that the challenge of the home players has been as thin as some of the scrub round the Troon course.

Only…

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